MATC bumped up to Division II, now offering athletic scholarships

Milwaukee Area Technical College is offering nearly 25 athletic scholarships in basketball and tennis the fall.

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Milwaukee Area Technical College is offering nearly 25 athletic scholarships in basketball and tennis the fall.

The reason for this historic change is because of the school's new athletic standing in the National Junior College Athletic Association. NJCAA has ranked MATC's men's and women's tennis teams Division I and both basketball teams Division II.

Some of the funding for the school's scholarships comes from the late player Will Kellerman's scholarship fund "Opportunity 34." Kristin Kellerman is Will's mother and says this donation to the college is the foundation's first gift as an organization.

MATC was the last place Will played basketball before he was tragically killed in a car crash six months ago. His parents, Kristin and Brian, wanted to honor their son through this basketball foundation.

Even though Will only played two games at MATC before his death, the team cherished him. One teammate, Bryant Nolan, has a tattoo of Will's jersey #34 on his leg. Nolan says Will was the guy who always had his back.

"I'll be almost late to practice," Nolan said. "He'll come pick me up.He lived right around the corner from me. He'll come pick me up. We'll both be late together."

Opportunity 34 Foundation has raised $192,000 in the six months since Will's passing. His mother hopes that they'll continue to raise more to give back to the community.

"We've been given a gift, to continue his legacy, and will would not want us to just curl up and die and not do anything," said Kristin.

The Kellermans are giving $40,000 for basketball scholarships to MATC. New MATC students, as well as, returning students will be eligible for athletic scholarships. Both basketball and tennis teams will start competing in their new divisions this fall.